2010-2011 ACC Preview

#9: Boston College

Games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams: 8
Best non-conference game: Nov. 25 vs. Texas A&M (in Orlando)

Projected Starting Five:
C - Josh Southern (Senior)
F - Joe Trapani (Junior)
F - Corey Raji (Senior)
G - Biko Paris (Senior)
G - Reggie Jackson (Junior)

Last year, Boston College struggled, which was pretty much expected. They had lost their best player (Tyrese Rice). But now they are left to start over again with a new coach. The Eagles hired Cornell's Steve Donahue after dumping Al Skinner. So while the Eagles return a lot of experience and some pretty talented players, the conventional wisdom is that with a new coach there will be some growing pains.

I like a couple players on the BC team. Joe Trapani has been solid for them after transferring from Vermont. He can play lights out at times, but needs to work on his consistency. Reggie Jackson was a young player who last year showed some flashes of being a very dynamic player. I expect him to take a step forward this year. The Eagles did lose Rakim Sanders, who was a solid player at times but really struggled last year. The rest of their pieces are players who have experience but probably would not start on many teams in the ACC.

There are eight seniors on the roster this year, so the Eagles should be used to the ups and downs of the ACC. The test will be whether they can adapt to the new system and have the confidence that they can win the big game. Besides a trip to the tournament in Orlando, BC has a pretty easy non-conference schedule, so they should start out with a decent record. They have to eliminate the bad losses that plagued them last year. If Donahue can get this team playing with confidence, they have a chance to contend for an NCAA bid.